E-scooters are set to be removed from a major region as part of new plans for transport, which would make the greener vehicles “temporarily” unavailable.
Essex County Council revealed that e-scooters used as part of the trial scheme will be collected by the authority while it moves its services over to a new provider.
E-scooter rental trials have been temporarily removed from Essex as part of contract delays
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GETTYAccording to reports, the scheme has supported over three million journeys across Braintree, Chelmsford and Colchester.
The council shared: “The council would like to thank Dott, the current operator (previously operating as Spin and then Tier), for its contribution over the past five years.
“Unfortunately, the expiry of Dott’s contract and unexpected delays in tendering a new contract mean e-scooters will temporarily be unavailable for hire in Essex.”
But while the contract looks to be renegotiated, riders have been advised not to try and use the e-scooters as they could still get charged.
E-scooters have been available in Essex since 2020
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PACouncillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport, added: “We’re proud of the role shared e-scooters have played in helping thousands of residents make more sustainable travel choices across Essex.
“As we move into the next phase of the service, we remain committed to expanding sustainable transport options and look forward to announcing a new provider soon.”
Under UK law, e-scooters can only be used in trial areas with official providers receiving approval from local authorities to operate.
Any e-scooter found on UK roads that is not in a trial area is deemed illegal, with riders slapped with hefty penalties for breaking the rules.
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British Transport Police shared: “E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to e-scooters, including the need to have a licence and insurance.
“It’s not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters. This means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.”
The police warned that they can issue fixed penalty notices to riders of the e-scooters if caught breaking the law. This includes a £300 fine and six penalty points on a driving licence for having no insurance, as well as a £100 fine and three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence.
Riders can also be fined £50 if caught riding on a pavement and given a £200 fine as well as six penalty points for using a mobile phone or other handheld mobile device while riding.
Other penalties include a £100 fine and possible penalty points for riding through red lights, but more shockingly, riders can be fined the same as drivers for drink/drug offences
This could be as much as court-imposed fines, a driving ban and possible imprisonment in more serious cases.
In a more recent example, last month, Essex Police confiscated a privately-owned e-scooter caught on the A131.
The e-scooter was being operated without any lighting, while the rider was not wearing appropriate safety equipment and was barely visible to other road users.
